Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce has suffered a concussion and will not make the Canes’ two-game road trip, coach Bill Peters said Wednesday.
Pesce was hit by a puck in the shoulder and head area during practice Tuesday, when forward Joakim Nordstrom got off a shot and the puck glanced off Pesce’s stick. Pesce was down on the ice for several minutes as he was being treated by Canes trainers, and appeared dazed as he was helped off the ice.
Pesce and Jaccob Slavin have been the Canes’ best shutdown defensive pairing. With Pesce out indefinitely, Peters could use Slavin with Justin Faulk as his top pairing.